Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
Vancouver, BC
Whether brought on by the beautiful transitions of pregnancy, the incredible milestone of significant weight loss, or natural age-related abdominal laxity, the stomach area can often reach a point where diet and exercise can no longer restore its shape. When the underlying abdominal wall stretches and the skin loses its natural elasticity, specialized reconstructive and cosmetic surgery is required to re-establish definition.
At Dr. Jennifer Prince Plastic Surgery in Surrey, BC, we offer advanced tummy tuck surgery to restore a firmer, more contoured abdominal profile. Dr. Prince customizes every surgical procedure to reshape the lower abdomen, repair separated or weakened abdominal muscles, and cleanly remove the extra skin for a smoother, flatter contour.
Outpatient procedure
2 to 3 weeks for routine daily activities; 6-8 weeks for strenuous exercise
Generally performed in 2 to 4 hours under general anesthesia
Immediate structural flattening, with final waistline contour settling over 6 to 12 months
Abdominoplasty surgery is a structural procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat from the midsection while permanently reinforcing the underlying abdominal wall. It is important to understand that this is not a weight loss procedure. Instead, the goal is to recontour and reshape a frame that has already achieved a relatively stable weight.
When a person experiences massive weight loss or carries a pregnancy to term, the tissues across the upper abdomen and lower abdomen experience mechanical stretching. This often breaks down the underlying supportive network, leaving behind loose skin, fatty tissue, and stubborn stretch marks that no longer contract. A tummy tuck actively removes redundant skin, tightens underlying muscles, and sculpts away fat pockets, creating a smoother, flatter, stronger abdomen
Every individual's torso architecture is unique, which is why Dr. Prince utilizes a range of advanced surgical techniques. During your private consultation, she will thoroughly review your medical history, previous surgeries, and degree of tissue laxity to select the ideal path forward.
To optimize results, Dr. Prince frequently pairs abdominoplasty procedures with targeted liposuction to seamlessly thin out stubborn fatty tissue layers along the hips, mons and upper ribcage, creating a smooth, unified transition.
Ideal for patients with a stable weight who exhibit mild loose skin and muscular weakness confined strictly below the belly button. This partial abdominoplasty utilizes a shorter incision along the bikini line and does not require repositioning the belly button.
The typical tummy tuck approach for post-pregnancy changes. It involves a hip-to-hip incision to provide full muscle repair from the ribcage down, sculpting away excess, loose skin, and shifting the belly button to a natural, balanced position.
Designed for patients who have experienced significant weight loss and possess loose skin and fatty tissue extending past the front of the abdomen into the flanks and lower back. Dr. Prince prefers an extended abdominoplasty or a high-lateral-tension abdominoplasty for these frames to cleanly contour the hips and waistline simultaneously.
For massive weight loss patients with extreme vertical and horizontal skin redundancy, a standard hip incision isn't enough. This approach introduces an additional vertical incision line, allowing Dr. Prince to pull the waistline inward from the sides like a corset, effectively addressing folds of redundant tissue.
A comprehensive 360-degree surgery that wraps around the circumference of the mid-body to elevate the thighs, lift the buttocks, and flatten the abdominal wall after significant weight loss.
A personalized tummy tuck procedure goes far beyond simple cosmetic enhancement, providing essential structural repair for:
Diastasis Recti (Separated Abdominal Muscles): Repairs the primary tummy muscles that have pulled apart down the midline during pregnancy, restoring functional core strength.
Significant Excess Skin: Permanently removes heavy, hanging aprons of skin and fat that cause physical discomfort and chafing.
Lower Abdomen Stretch Marks: Eliminates stubborn stretch marks that are physically located on the skin tissue earmarked for removal below the navel.
Post-Bariatric Deflation: Resolves the structural laxity left behind after losing massive amounts of weight.
Abdominoplasty improves your daily comfort, increases clothing choices, and provides long-term core stability.
Posture Improvement: Tightening weakened abdominal muscles provides internal support, relieving chronic lower back strain.
Wardrobe Confidence: Enjoy a flat, smooth silhouette in fitted activewear, evening gowns, and swimwear without shapewear.
Elimination of Tissue Friction: Removing excess hanging fat and skin reduces localized irritation and chafing.
Restored Physical Function: A strengthened abdominal wall improves core stability during running, yoga, and other physical activities.
If you have achieved a stable weight through a healthy diet and exercise but are left with stretched core muscles and loose skin, you are an excellent candidate. It is important to plan this surgery for a time when they do not anticipate future pregnancies, as carrying a child after a tummy tuck will re-stretch the repaired tummy muscles and compromise your surgical results.
Candidates must be free of active medical conditions that impair wound healing. Smoking, nicotine use, and certain unmanaged blood pressure conditions significantly increase risk factors for blood clots, cause the incision site to heal poorly, or lead to wound healing complications.
Dr. Prince will review your medical history and goals to ensure that a tummy tuck is the right choice for you.
Because abdominoplasty is a major surgery, mapping out your recovery period with realistic expectations ensures a stress-free transition from surgery back to your daily routine. Dr. Prince provides detailed aftercare instructions and attentive support throughout the recovery process.
When you wake up, you will be wearing a specialized abdominal binder or surgical compression garment to support the newly tightened muscles and control initial swelling. Dr. Prince may place specialized drainage tubes near the incision site to collect excess fluid. These tubes are removed in-office in the first week or two.
For the first few days, you will walk with a slight forward bend to protect the remaining skin from tension. Discomfort is typically well-managed with pain medication. Most patients take 2-3 weeks off from light desk work, while heavy lifting and strenuous exercise must be completely avoided for at least 6 weeks. We recommend no core workouts for 3 months.
While you will notice a dramatically flatter stomach area immediately, your true tummy tuck results will emerge gradually. Initial post-surgical swelling can take several weeks to fully subside. Your new waistline contour will continually refine, soften, and lock into place over the course of 3-6 months.
The structural removal of skin and fat cells and the reinforcement of the internal abdominal wall are permanent. Your body will continue to age naturally, but your abdomen will always remain flatter and tighter than it would have without the surgical procedure. Maintaining a stable weight and staying committed to a vibrant, healthy lifestyle helps preserve these stunning lines for life.
Sculpting a beautiful waistline while performing internal muscle repair demands a plastic surgeon with extensive reconstructive surgery experience. Dr. Jennifer Prince brings decades of masterful clinical judgment to her practice in Surrey. Her extensive background in complex trauma and microsurgery allows her to safely plan and execute abdominoplasty procedures tailored to each patient's needs.
As a female plastic surgeon, Dr. Prince brings an intuitive perspective to conversations about post-maternal body image, weight loss, and physical milestones. She rejects rapid, generic methods, spending significant time evaluating your unique anatomy to customize a plan that prioritizes your safety and boosts your long-term confidence and quality of life.
A liposuction procedure is designed strictly to remove pockets of localized excess fat from beneath the skin, but it cannot address loose skin or separated abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck is a comprehensive structural restoration that removes excess skin, tightens the core wall, and eliminates fat. Dr. Prince often combines both techniques to achieve optimal, high-definition contours.
An abdominoplasty will leave a permanent scar across the lower abdomen, but Dr. Prince places the incision site exceptionally low so that it stays completely hidden beneath standard underwear and bikini lines. The scar will initially appear pink and raised, but it will naturally flatten, soften, and fade to a discreet, pale line over the course of a year with proper scar therapy.
An abdominoplasty will permanently remove any stretch marks on the loose skin tissue to be removed, which generally encompasses the entire region below the belly button. Any stretch marks located on the upper abdomen above the navel will be pulled downward during the tightening process, shifting them much lower on the belly where they are far less visible.
During a complete abdominoplasty, your actual belly button remains fully attached to its native stalk on the abdominal wall while the surrounding stretched skin is removed. Dr. Prince then brings the upper skin down, creates a brand-new, artistically tailored opening, and meticulously sutures the belly button back into its correct position, ensuring it looks entirely natural and proportional.
Patient safety is our absolute highest priority. To prevent complications such as deep vein thrombosis, our healthcare team encourages gentle, frequent walking around the house starting on the very evening of your surgery. Movement helps keep blood flowing safely through your calves, and we may combine it with specialized compression wraps or short-term medical protocols based on your personal health markers.
